Welcome to our weekly column in which a topic of interest, piece of news, relevant opinion, or general request for feedback is presented. We’ll offer the topic du jour and accompanying question, and you have the opportunity to respond with your thoughts.
Simply fill out the form below. A collection of each week’s responses will appear in the following week’s column. To view responses on our previous topics click here.
Publisher reserves the right to edit responses for clarity and publish online and/or in our print publications.
Please let us know your thoughts!
This week’s Feedback Friday topic is:
“F” Grades for Maryland Air Quality Doled Out
This week, the American Lung Association issued it’s annual “State of the Air” report, which evaluates jurisdictions in each state for air quality. Air pollution seems to permeate Maryland. All but one jurisdiction earned grades well below healthy levels. In examining ozone and particle pollution, only Garrett County in Western Maryland earned an “A” grade. Sadly, but not surprisingly, counties with the highest population densities earned “F” grades—Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Baltimore, and Harford.
The report warns that continued exposure to high levels of air pollution—especially days issued/alerted as “code orange” or worse by the EPA—can increase the risk of developing asthma, respiratory infections, lung cancer, and heart disease. And shorten lives.
Do these reports affect your day-to-day living? How do you mitigate the risks associated with poor air quality? Can anything be done? Health policy, legislation, cultural shift to cleaner energy?
Please share your thoughts by filling out this form. Today’s responses—and all future Feedback Friday responses—will be published in our Monday newsletters after the weekend. AND, several responses from recent topics will appear in our upcoming print magazines!
